Pretzel machine



Jan. 30, 1940. v. A. VON HAASE 2,188,799

PRETZEL MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 14, 1935 up w z I I .INVENTOR.

ficiorAvozu -lmse JATTORNEX a Patented Jan. 30, 194

UNITED STATES PRETZEL MACHINE.

Victor A. von Haase, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor to The Victor Development and Patent Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Substitute for abandoned application Serial No. 36,161, August 14,1935. This application June 28, 1939, Serial No. 281,717

9 Claims. (01. 107-14) My invention relates, in general, to pretzelma- .achines or, the like and more particularly to machinesior forming pretzels and other objects by extruding the dough or other soft pliable subl stances through an opening having an outline defining the shape of the object to be formed. This application is a substitute for my abandoned application, Serial No. 36,161 filed August 14, 1935.

An object of my invention is to provide for extruding the dough or other soft pliable substances through an opening having a shape which defines the outline of the objects to be formed, ,1 and for slicing the extruding dough or other soft pliable substances as it is extruded through the said opening. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide for varying the relative speed at which the extruded dough or other soft pliable substances is 20 sliced off and the speed at which the dough or other soft pliable substances is extruded throughthe opening.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a compressor having a screw propeller for extruding or compressing the dough or other soft pliable substances through an opening having a shape which defines the outline of the objects to be formed, and a cooperatively associated cutting device adapted to slice the extruded dough or other pliable substances as it is extruded through the said opening.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a hopper for feeding the dough or other pliable substances into the compressor, the arrangement of the hopper being such that the side walls thereof, slope outwardly in order to prevent the dough or other pliable substances from 'stick-' ing to the inside walls of the hopper.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a removable forming header for the compressor having a removable die forming face.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a conveyor for conveying the formed pretzels or other objects to the oven or other processing devices.

Another object of my invention is to provide for positioning the front face of the forming die at an angle to the conveyor. I

50 Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the follow-' ing description and claims taken in combination with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a planned view of a device 65 embodying the features of my invention. 7

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional and longitudinal view of the die formingheader.

Figure 3 is a front end view of the formin header.

Figure 4 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing primarily a cooperative relationship between the die forming header and the slicing device, and

Figure 5 is a modified form of my invention in that the entire assembly is mounted at an angle to the conveyor.

-While I have illustrated the principle of my invention to form pretzels, .it is to be understood, however, that my invention may be utilized to form other objects such as crackers, having vari- 5 ous outlines and shapes.

The pretzels formed by my invention are of the conventional .type except that the center is not twisted. With'reference to Figure 3, the shape of the pretzel formed by my invention is defined by three sections; namely, ABC, AC, and BC. With reference to Figure l, the equipment for formingthe pretzels or other objects may be mounted upon a base ill which is supported by the legs'l'i' that are braced by the angle supports I2. The essential parts of my invention which are mounted upon the base Ill comprises a motor 13, a dough compressor I6, a die forming header ll, a slicing device l8, and a conveyor designated generally by the reference character 23.

The dough compressor l6 comprises a forward housing 34, a hopper 35, and a screw propeller 3% which compresses or :extrudes the dough throughythe die forming header l1. As shown best in Figure 4, the side Walls of the hopper 35 are sloping outwardly so that the dough or other pliable substances do not stick or adhere to the inside walls of the hopper. Also the lowermost portion of the hopper is larger than the housing 36 so that the dough or other pliable substances 40 may fully surround the screw propeller 36. This construction insures substantially uniform feeding of the dough-tothe screw propeller and thereby maintains a high degree of accuracy in the forming of the pretzels or other objects. As illustrated, the screw propeller 36 is driven by the electricalmotor 13 through means of a variable speed transmission l4 having a control lever l5 which is adapted to vary the speed at which the screw propeller 36 is driven. The power delivered by the motor I3 and which drives the screw propeller 38 is transmitted-first through a shaft 31, the variable speed transmission 14, and the shafts 32 and 33.

The slicing device I8 is likewise driven by the 66 motor I 3 but it is to be understood that the slicing device I8 may be driven by a separate motor. The power for driving the slicing device I8 is transmitted through gears 26 and 21, the shaft 28, the variable speed transmission 25 having a control lever 29, and a shaft 30. The variable speed transmission 25 is employed so that the relative speed between the slicing device I8 and the screw propeller 36 may be so varied as to control the thickness of the pretzels or other formed objects. As illustrated, the rearward end of the shaft 28 may be suitably supported by means of a bearing 2| and the forward end of the shaft 30 may be suitably supported by a bearing 22.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the slicing device It? has two slicing knives l9 and 20 suitably connected to the revolving flange of the slicing device 18. The slicing knives i9 and 20 are so arranged that they resiliently slide against the forward face of the forming die and slice the extruded dough or other pliable substances as it is extruded from theface of the forming die.

The die forminghe'ader "is provided atits left hand end with suitable internal threads 59 which are adapted to threadably engage -the externalthreads 34 upon the forward end of the housing 3d of the dough compressor IS. The die forming header I! is'screwed upon the housing 34 of the dough compressor until the angular shoulder 58 within the die forming header l1 engages the forward end of the housing 34. In order to facilitate the turning of the die forming header IL'there'are provided suitable lugs 31 adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench. The'forward end of the die forming header is provided with internal threads 56 which threadably receive a removable die forming face which is 'made up of a plurality of segments 38, '39, and

40 which are surrounded by a portion 4!. As illustrated best in Figure 3, the segments 38, 39,

and 40 and the surrounding portion 41 are so po- "sitioned that their adjacent edges: are spaced apart to: form an opening'having the shape of a conventional pretzel. Thesesegments 38, 39, and '40 and the portion 4| surrounding the segments are supported by a supporting ring 48 having external threads 5'! that threadably engage the internal threads 56 of the die forming header l1. Thesupporting ring 48 isprovided with a plurality of inwardly projecting supporting portions 58, 5!, 52, and'53. These inwardly projecting sup-porting portions carry a plurality of supporting studs 42,43,4 1, 45, 16, and 41. The supporting stud 42 carries the segment 38, the supporting stud 44 carries the segment 39. The supporting stud 45 carries the segment 40 and the supporting studs43, 4B, and '41 carry the portion 41 that supports the segments. 38, 39, and 40.

Therefore, by means of this assembly and construction, the die forming face may be threadably removed from the die forming header ll.

In'this manner other shaped die forming faces closely against the side face of the forming die.

In the operation of my device, the dough or other pliable forming substances is inserted in the hopper 35 of the compressor 16 andfwhen the motor is started, the screw propeller 36 forces or extrudes the dough or other pliable substances through the opening in the face of the forming die. As the dough or other pliable substances is extruded, the slicing knives I8 and I9 revolve to slice off the extruded dough'after which the formed pretzelsor objects, falls upon the conveyor 23 and'are carried to abaking oven on other processing devices. Thedepth of the pretzel. or other objects, may be governed by the setting of the variably speed transmission 25 which varies the speed of the slicing knives l8 and 20. As shown in Figure 4, the slicing knives I9 and; 20 first contact the lower right hand portion of the extruded dough or other pliable substances and moves upwardly to make the complete slice.

"or their fall to the conveyor" 23, gradually lean over so that whenth'e formed pretzels: other formed objects strike the conveyor 23, they are I substantially horizontal, which means that there is no deformation in'the outline of the formed pretzels or other objects." In Figure lfthe conveyor 23 is at a considerable distance below the dieforming header l"!"so tha't'the slicing knives l9 and'flfi'clear the conveyor. "This distance betweenthec'onveyor'ZS and the die forming header I! also gives the formed pretzels or other formed'objects sufficient distance in which to fall .I

so that they always strike the conveyor ,23 in substantially a horizontal manner. 'In Figurefi, I show a modification of my forming machine in that the entire assembly" is tilted *at'anangle with respect to the conveyor 65. To accomplish this, the equipment may be mounted "upon'an' inclined base "60 supportedat its rearward end by legs BI and a supporting angle brace "62, and at its forward end'by a. leg'63, andangle supporting braces '64. In'fthis embodiment of myth 7 invention, the conveyor fifimay be"placed'rela- 'tively close to the die forming header H sd that"v the formed'pretzel or other objects strike the conveyor in substantially a horizontal man- Also in "Figure inasmuch as the entire assembly is at an angle, the slicing knives l9 and 20 clear the closelyspaced conveyor 65'. The

operation of the assemblyin Figure 5 is the" same as that previously described Withreference to the preferred showing of my invention.

Although I have-described my invention with a certain degree of particularity; it is understood thatthepresent disclosure has been m'adeonly by way of example and'that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination' and arrangement of parts may beresorted to "without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the invention "as hereinafter claimed.

I claim" as my invention? L A header for an object forming machine, said machine having a housing comprising, in combination, .an enclosed wa'll member having bneendadaptedtobe attached to: said: housing and having the otherend. open, ,a plurality'of j segmental; pieces arranged. in substantially v.the same plane at said open end and in spaced relationship with respect to eachothento form an.

opening having an outline in the shape of the object to be formed, a member for supporting each of said segmental pieces, each said member extending rearwardly from said each segmental piece and terminating intermediate the ends of said wall member, a supporting member adapted to move through said open end of the wall member and being adapted to engage said wall member intermediate the ends of said wall member, said supporting member having a plurality of projecting portions extending radially and inwardly of said wall member, and means for fastening said longitudinal members to the said projecting portions.

2. A header for the housing of a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces comprising, in combination, a wall member having an end adapted to engage said housing and having the other end open, said wall member having a hollow opening to form a passageway for said dough, an outer die member having an opening in the shape of the outer outline of the dough object to be formed at said open end, said outer die member engaging said wall member and preventing dough from passing between the outer die member and the wall member, a plurality of island die members for forming the open spaces in said dough object, said island die members being spaced in the opening in said outer die member in relative position to each other and to the said outer die member to form an openinghaving the outline of said dough object to be formed, an engaging member rigidly engagingeach said die member for holding the respective die members in position, said engaging members being extended inwardly and longitudinally of said wall member, supporting means engaged within said wall member, said supporting means having an open space to permit said dough to pass therethrough,a plurality of projecting portions extending radially and inwardly from said'supporting means, and means for securing said engaging members to said projecting portions respectively.

3. A header for the housing of a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces comprising, in combination, a hollow wall member having one end adapted to engage said housing and having the other end open, said wall memher having a flat surface portion at said open end, an outer die member having an opening in the shape of the outer outline of the dough object to be formed, the said outer die member abutting the said fiat surface portion so as to prevent dough from passing between the outer die member and the wall member, a plurality of island die membersfor forming the open spaces in said dough object to be formed, said island die members being spaced in the opening in said outer die member in relative position to each other and to said outer die member to form an opening having the outline of said dough object to be formed, a member engaging each said island die member for holding the respective die members in position, supporting means for said members, and means forholding said supporting means in position within said wall member.

4. The combination of a header for a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces, said header having a flat forward face, the said forward face having an opening in the shape of the dough object to be formed through which the said dough is extruded and is supported in' said extruded position by the header, and a knife mounted adjacent said forward face, said knife engaging and .sliding across in close engagement with said flat forward face to shear off said extruded dough to form said dough objects, said knife and its relationship to the opening in the header enabling the progressively sheared off portions of the dough to remain substantially inthe shape of the said opening in the header and caus- 5. The combination of a die member for a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces, said die member having an opening in the shape of the dough object to be formed through which dough is extruded, and a knife member mounted adjacent said die member and passing across the face of said die member, said knife member having a relatively sharp knife edge portion and a thicker body portion, the said knife member moving in an upwarddirection so that the said knife edge portion severs said extruded dough progressively from the bottom portion to the top portion of said dough, the upward movementof the said body portion and the relation of the knife to the opening in the die member being such that the said object formed from said dough is inclined so as to fall ona receiving surface substantially fiat on its face.

6. The combination of a die member for a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces, said die member having an opening in the shape of the dough object to be formed through which said dough is extruded and suspended, and a knife member mounted adjacent said die member, the knife member closely engaging and passing the face of said die member in an upward direction to shear off the extruded dough, the upward movement of said knife member and the relation of the knife member to the opening in the die member being such that the extruded dough is maintained in the shape of the said object to be formed, and being such that the upper portion of the extruded dough is sheared off last and the formed dough object is inclined by the said knife member to fall on a receiving surface substantially flat on its face.

7. The combination of a header for a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces, said header having a flat forward face, the said forward face having an opening in the shape of the dough object to be formed through which the dough is extruded, a knife member arranged to slide in close engagement with and upwardly across said flat forward face to sever said extruded dough progressively from the bottom to the top, to form dough objects having open spaces, readily adjustable means for varying the relative speed between the said knife moving across said forward face and the extrusion of the dough, and actuating means for controlling the readily adjustable means.

8. The combination of a rotatable header for a machine for forming dough objects having open spaces, said header having an opening through which said dough is extruded to form the dough objects having open spaces, a knife member for shearing off the extruded dough,'said knife member moving upwardly across the opening in said header, said header being rotatable so that the relative position of said opening with respect to, said knife member may be established.

9. The combination of a die member for a machine for forming open pretzels out. of plastic dough, the said pretzels having dough defining a central opening and two side openings, said die member having an opening in the shape of a pretzel through which said dough is extruded,

, and a knife member mounted. adjacent said die member and closely engaging and passing the face of said. diemember to shear ofi said. dough, the relation of the knife member to the opening in said die member being such that the dough defim ing the central opening of the pretzel is sheared. off before the dough defining the two side openings of the pretzel is completely shearedoff to cause the formed pretzel to fall on a receiving surface in its proper shape.

VICTOR A. VON HAASE. 

